Shared Video Presentation With Configurable Independent Communication Channels And Data

ABSTRACT

A real estate virtual snowing management system manages virtual showings of listings. The system enables all parties to view the listing virtually. It does not allow a buyer to be visible to the seller side. It also does not allow a seller to be visible to the buyer side. Both the buyer and seller sides form independent confidential communication channels during the virtual showing while the agents are visible to all parties. The system further allows the listing agent to seek real-time feedback from the showing agent during the live virtual showing. In addition, the system provides confidential audio communication for the buyer side and the seller side independently. The system allows the parties to mute and unmute media from another party. The system also can auto-tag a property feature while it is being shown. The system further allows the listing agent to seek the buyer&#39;s engagement measurement data.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

NONE

FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE

The present inversion relates generally to a real estate showingmanagement system, and more particularly relates to a multi-partyvirtual showing system for showing real estate properties. Moreparticularly still, the present disclosure relates to a multi-party realestate virtual showing management system with dynamically configurableindependent communication channels and data.

DESCRIPTION OF BACKGROUND

A real estate showing scheduling system manages and processes realestate property listings (also simply referred to herein as listings)and showings of listings. A listing is a real estate property that hasbeen put up for, for example sale or leasing, by a property owner ormanaging entity. In the scheduling system, a listing is a logicalrepresentation of a real estate property, and often comprisesidentification and contact information (such as a mobile telephonenumber and an E-mail address) of the owner and/or tenants and one ormore listing agents of the underlying real estate property. The listingagents and owners (also referred to herein as sellers) are alsocollectively referred to herein as listing contacts. Listing contacts ofa listing may include other interested parties, without limitation to, aco-owner, a lasting office of the listing, a tenant of the underlyingreal estate property, a bank, a mortgage company, an appraiser or aninspector. Additionally, a listing includes a detailed description, suchas an address and features, of the underlying real estate property. Thelisting may further include showing instructions and other details aboutthe property, such as school information, tax information, marketingdetails.

A showing of a listing is a scheduled visit of the underlying realestate property by a showing agent, such as a real estate agent for aprospect buyer. A showing appointment (also referred to herein as anappointment) is a scheduled appointment that concerns or is regardingthe showing of a listing. To schedule a showing, a showing agent, forinstance, accesses a scheduling system to request a showing appointmenton a selected listing. The showing appointment is made on the calendarof a listing contact (such as a listing agent, which is a real estateagent for the seller). Listing agents access the scheduling systemrunning a scheduling software application, such as ShowingTime®'sShowingDesk™ software, to manage their calendars. For example, a listingagent marks some time slots where she/he accepts showing appointmentsand indicates some other time slots where she/he does not accept showingappointments. Additionally, the scheduling system allows the listingagent to indicate the procedure for the showings to be confirmed, suchas no appointment required, confirmation by the seller required, etc.

After the showing appointment is requested, a request (through E-mail,telephone, text messaging, push notification, etc.) for confirmation issent to the listing contact. When the confirmation Is received from thelisting agent, the scheduling system notifies the showing agent thathis/her appointment has been confirmed or accepted. The listing contactmay decline the showing request. In such a case, a decline is receivedfrom the listing agent. In addition, the showing agent is notified ofthe decline. The time of the scheduled showing is referred to herein asshowing appointment time with a beginning time and an end time, such as1:00 PM to 1:30 PM on Apr. 3. 2020.

Usually, the showing agent accesses the property and shows the propertyto his client (such as a prospect buyer or an inspector, collectivelyreferred to herein as buyer) at or around the showing appointment time.As used herein, showing the property is also referred to herein asshowing the appointment. Both the showing agent and the buyer arephysically present in the property. After the showing appointment time,the scheduling system oftentimes sends a request (such as a textmessage, an E-mail, a voice call, etc.) to the showing agent seekingfeedback on the listing. In response, the showing agent sometimes sendsa reply message with a showing feedback.

For various reasons, the buyer or the showing agent may not be able tophysically visit the listing for showing. Instead, the buyer desires toview the inside and the outside of the property remotely while theshowing agent or a different presenter physically visits the listing.For instance, the virtual showing is desired during a pandemic whensocial distancing is required. In such cases, the showing is conductedusing, for example, a video conference software application. Forexample, they use the Zoom™ video conferencing software provided by ZoomVideo Communications, Inc. to conduct the showing.

A Zoom™ meeting is first scheduled and later joined by the buyer, theshowing agent, the listing agent, the seller and a presenter. Thepresenter visits the property with her/his electronic communicationdevice's (such as a smart phone, a tablet computer, a laptop computer,etc.) camera aiming at various features of the property. The rest of theparticipants of the virtual showing view the features of the property ontheir own electronic communication devices at their own locationsrespectively. The presenter can be the showing agent, the listing agent,or a different individual (such as a professional videographer) underthe control of the listing agent or the showing agent.

In this paradigm, there is no privacy or confidentiality between thebuyer, the seller, the showing agent and the listing agent during thevideo conference session. There is no media (audio and/or video) or dataindependence between the parties either. It is thus not desirable sincethe buying side including the buyer and the showing agent and theselling side (including the listing agent and the seller) have aconflict of interest and prefers confidential and private communicationswithin their respective side. The buyer intends to push down the priceof the property down while the seller intends to push up the price. Thebuyer may express certain opinions or questions to the showing agent anddo not want the same known to the selling side, and vice versa.

Accordingly, there is need for a new virtual real estate showingmanagement system that shows properties virtually and maintainsconfidentiality between the buying and selling sides. The new virtualreal estate showing management system provides dynamic configuration ofthe independent and confidential communication channel. In addition, thenew virtual real estate showing management system maintains confidentialshowing communication data.

SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE

Generally speaking, pursuant to the various embodiments, the presentdisclosure provides a new real estate virtual showing management system.The new real estate virtual showing management system includes a servercomputer software application running a server computer, a remoteshowing agent computer software application running on a showing agentdevice, a remote buyer computer software application running on a buyerdevice, a remote listing agent computer software application running ona listing agent device, a remote seller computer software applicationrunning on a seller device, a remote presenter computer softwareapplication, and a media routing state machine maintained by the servercomputer software application for controlling media relay within thereal estate virtual showing management system. The media includes audioand video. The server computer includes a server processing unit, aserver network interface operatively coupled to the server processingunit, and a server memory operatively coupled to the server processingunit. The server computer software application is adapted to access adatabase. The showing agent device includes a processing unit, an audioout interface, an audio input interface, a user input interface, amemory, a video output interface, a video input interface and a networkinterface. The showing agent device is adapted to communicate with theserver computer over the Internet. The buyer device includes aprocessing unit, an audio out interface, an audio input interface, auser input interface, a memory, a video output interface, a video inputinterface and a network interface. The buyer device is adapted tocommunicate with the server computer over the Internet. The listingagent device includes a processing unit, an audio out interface, anaudio input interface, a user input interface, a memory, a video outputinterface, a video input interface and a network interface. The listingagent device is adapted to communicate with the server computer over theInternet. The seller device includes a processing unit, an audio outinterface, an audio input interface, a user input interface, a memory, avideo output interface, a video input interface and a network interface.The seller device adapted to communicate with the server computer overthe Internet. The presenter device includes a processing unit, an audioout interface, an audio input interface, a user input interface, amemory, a video output interface, a video input interface and a networkinterface. The presenter device is adapted to communicate with theserver computer over the Internet. The server computer softwareapplication is adapted to receive participation requests from theshowing agent device, the buyer device, the listing agent device, theseller device and the presenter device to join a virtual showing of alisting. The server computer software application is also adapted toinitialize the media routing state machine, receive video of the listingfrom the presenter device, and relay the video from the presenter deviceto the buyer device, the showing agent device, the listing agent device,and the seller device. The server computer software application isfurther adapted to receive media from the showing agent device, andrelay the media from the showing agent device to the buyer device, thelisting agent device, and the seller device. In addition, the servercomputer software application is adapted to receive media from thelisting agent device, and relay the media from the listing agent deviceto the buyer device, the showing agent device, and the seller device.Moreover, the server computer software application is adapted to receivemedia from the buyer device, and relay the media from the buyer deviceto the showing agent device. The media from the buyer device is notrelayed to the listing agent device or the seller device. Thereby abuyer side independent confidential communication channel is formedbetween the showing agent device and the buyer device. Furthermore, theserver computer software application is adapted to receive media fromthe seller device, and relay the media from the seller device to thelisting agent device, wherein the media from the seller device is notrelayed to the showing agent device or the buyer device. Thereby aseller side independent confidential communication channel is formedbetween the listing agent device and the seller device.

In one implementation, the showing agent device and the presenter deviceare a single remote electronic communication device, and the remoteshowing agent computer software application is same as the remotepresenter computer software application In another implementation, thelisting agent device and the presenter device are a single remoteelectronic communication device, and the remote listing agent computersoftware application is same as the remote presenter computer softwareapplication. In one embodiment, the remote listing agent computersoftware application is same as the remote showing agent computersoftware application, and the remote buyer computer software applicationis same as the remote seller computer software application.

The server computer software application is further adapted to determinea virtual showing real-time feedback pair, receive a real-time feedbackrequest during the virtual showing from the listing agent device,forward the real-time feedback request to the showing agent device,receive a real-time feedback to the real-time feedback request from theshowing agent device, forward the real-time feedback to the listingagent device, and update a showing appointment corresponding to thevirtual showing with the real-time feedback. The real-time feedbackrequest is transcribed from audio, captured by the listing agent device,by the remote listing agent computer software application or the servercomputer software application. The real-time feedback is transcribedfrom audio, captured by the showing agent device, by the remote showingagent computer software application or the server computer softwareapplication. The server computer software application is also adapted todetermine a set of confidential audio communication pairs between theshowing agent device, the buyer device, the listing agent device and theseller device; receive confidential communication audio from a sourcedevice; determine a target device corresponding to the source devicebased on the set of confidential audio communication pairs; and forwardthe confidential communication audio to the target device alone.

In addition, the server computer software application is adapted toreceive a disengagement event from the buyer device, the disengagementevent determined by the remote buyer computer software application;process the disengagement event to generate user engagement measurementdata; receive a user engagement measurement data from the listing agentdevice, and forward the user engagement measurement data to the listingagent device. Moreover, the server computer software application isadapted to determine an auto-tag of a feature, being virtually shown, ofthe listing from the video of the listing from the presenter device,save the auto-tag and a corresponding timestamp; forward the video ofthe listing from the presenter device with the auto-tag to the showingagent device, the buyer device, the listing agent device and the sellerdevice; and generate an auto-tag table or content using the auto-tag andthe timestamp.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Although the characteristic features of this disclosure will beparticularly pointed out in the claims, the invention itself, and themanner in which it may be made and used, may be better understood byreferring to the following description taken in connection with theaccompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like referencenumerals refer to like parts throughout the several views and in which:

FIG. 1 is a simplified block diagram of a virtual real estate showingmanagement system in accordance with the teachings of this disclosure.

FIG. 2 is a simplified block diagram of an electronic communicationdevice for virtual real estate showings in accordance with the teachingsof this disclosure.

FIG. 3 is a simplified block diagram of a virtual real estate showingmanagement system server in accordance with the teachings of thisdisclosure.

FIG. 4 is a simplified flowchart illustrating a process by which ashowing management system server manages showing appointments andvirtual showings in accordance with the teachings of this disclosure.

FIG. 5 is an illustrative screenshot of a virtual showing appointment onan electronic communication device in accordance with the teachings ofthis disclosure.

FIG. 6 is an illustrative screenshot of a virtual showing on anelectronic communication device in accordance with the teachings of thisdisclosure.

FIG. 7 is an illustrative screenshot of a virtual showing appointment onan electronic communication device in accordance with the teachings ofthis disclosure.

FIG. 8 is an illustrative screenshot of a virtual showing on anelectronic communication device in accordance with the teachings of thisdisclosure.

FIG. 9 is an illustrative screenshot of a virtual showing appointment onan electronic communication device in accordance with the teachings ofthis disclosure.

FIG. 10 is an illustrative screenshot of a virtual showing on anelectronic communication device in accordance with the teachings of thisdisclosure.

FIG. 11 is an illustrative screenshot of a recorded virtual showing onan electronic communication device in accordance with the teachings ofthis disclosure.

FIG. 12 is an illustrative screenshot of a virtual showing appointmenton an electronic communication device in accordance with the teachingsof this disclosure.

FIG. 13 is an illustrative screenshot of a virtual showing on anelectronic communication device in accordance with the teachings of thisdisclosure.

FIG. 14 is a flowchart illustrating a process by which a showingmanagement system manages a virtual showing in accordance with theteachings of this disclosure.

FIG. 15A is a block diagram illustrating a media routing state machinefor a virtual showing in accordance with the teachings of thisdisclosure.

FIG. 15B is a block diagram illustrating a media routing state machinefor a virtual showing in accordance with the teachings of thisdisclosure.

FIG. 16 is a flowchart illustrating a process by which a showingmanagement system manages media of a virtual showing in accordance withthe teachings of this disclosure.

FIG. 17 is a flowchart illustrating a process by which a showingmanagement system manages real-time feedback of a virtual showing inaccordance with the teachings of this disclosure

FIG. 18 is a flowchart illustrating a process by which a showingmanagement system manages independent confidential audio communicationchannels of a virtual showing in accordance with the teachings of thisdisclosure.

FIG. 19 is a flowchart illustrating a process by which a showingmanagement system manages a participant's engagement of a virtualshowing in accordance with the teachings of this disclosure.

FIG. 20 is a flowchart illustrating a process by which a showingmanagement system auto-tags a property feature during a virtual showingin accordance with the teachings of this disclosure.

A person of ordinary skills in the art will appreciate that elements ofthe figures above are illustrated for simplicity and clarity, and arenot necessarily drawn to scale. The dimensions of some elements in thefigures may have been exaggerated relative to other elements to helpunderstanding of the present teachings. Furthermore, a particular orderin which certain elements, parts, components, modules, steps, actions,events and/or processes are described or illustrated may not be actuallyrequired. A person of ordinary skills in the art will appreciate that,for the purpose of simplicity and clarity of illustration, some commonlyknown and well-understood elements that are useful and/or necessary in acommercially feasible embodiment may not be depicted in order to providea clear view of various embodiments in accordance with the presentteachings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Turning to the Figures and to FIG. 1 in particular, a real estatevirtual showing management system in accordance with the presentteachings is shown and generally indicated at 100. The virtual realestate showing management system 100 is adapted to perform methods inaccordance with the present teachings to manage and conduct showings ofreal estate properties. In one illustrative embodiment, the system 100includes a showing management system 110 which comprises one or moreservers (such as a cloud server system, a server farm or a set ofindividual servers) indicated at 104, and one or more databases 112 forstoring listing contacts, listings, showing appointments, showing media,showing data, etc. The databases 112 (such as a cloud database system, arelational database system, etc.) are operatively coupled to the servers110 via, for example, networking links. The system 100 further includesremote electronic communication devices 130, 132, 134, 136 and 138communicating with the server system 110 via the Internet 102. Theelectronic communication devices 130-138 can be smartphone, tabletcomputers (such as iPAD™), laptop computers or desktop computers. Theyaccess the Internet 102 through networks 140, 142, 144, 146 and 148. Thenetworks 140-148 can be, for example, Wi-Fi networks or public cellularnetworks. In the illustrative embodiment, the electronic communicationdevices 130-138 are operated by and associated with a showing agent 120,a buyer 122, a listing agent 124, a seller 126 and a virtual showingpresenter 128 respectively.

The servers 110 run a specialized server software application forscheduling showings and managing listings as set forth in U.S. Pat. Nos.8,035,480 and 8,145,352 and U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/757,142,which are hereby incorporated by reference. The showing appointmentscheduling application is physically housed in a single server ordistributed across multiple servers within the scheduling system 110.Moreover, the showing management system 110 integrates with or connectsto one or more listing services (not shown) to update the database 112of real estate property listings.

The specialized server software application includes one or morecomputer software programs coded using computer programming languages,such as Java C#, etc. The specialized server software application alsomanages virtual showings. For instance, it generates one or more URLsfor a particular virtual showing. When the URLs are accessed by thedevices 130-138, the specialized server software application starts avirtual showing and manages the independent and confidentialcommunication channels for audio, video and/or data. It relays media(audio data and/or video data) and other types of data (such as feedbackand instructions). It also records the virtual showing, and serves itfor later playback requests from the devices 130-138. For ease ofreference, data that is neither audio nor video is referred to herein asdigital data.

In accordance with the present teachings, as shown in FIG. 3 , eachserver system 110 includes a server processing unit 302, a servernetwork interface 306 through which the server system 110 accesses theInternet 102 and communicates with the database 112, and some amount ofserver memory 303. The network interface 306 and the memory 308 areoperatively coupled to the processing unit 302. The server system 110further includes a specially server computer software application 304executed by the processing unit 302 for managing showings.

Each of the electronic communication devices 130-138, as shown in FIG. 2. includes a processing unit 202, an audio output interface (such as aspeaker) 206, an audio input interface (such as a microphone) 206, auser input interface (such as a touch screen) 210, some amount of memory212. a video output interface (such as a display screen) 214, a videoinput interface (such as a camera) 216, and a network interface 218. Theelements 206-218 are operatively coupled to the processing unit 202.Each of the electronic communication devices 130-138 further includes aspecial remote computer software application 204 executed by theprocessing unit 204. The special remote computer software application204 includes one or more computer software programs coded using computerprogramming languages.

The special remote computer software application 204, such as a mobileapp, may provide different features to different types of users ordifferent user interfaces for different types of users. The usersinclude the showing agent 120, the buyer 122, the listing agent 124, theseller 126 and the showing presenter 128. The special remote computersoftware application 204 can be a different computer softwareapplication for different types of users as well. It can also be a worldwide web based computer program loaded and executed by a web browser. Itshould be noted that the presenter 123 can a different individual fromthe showing agent 120 and the listing agent 124. In such a case, thepresenter 128 is managed by either the showing agent 120 or the listingagent 124. However, both the showing agent 120 and the listing agent 124can be the presenter 128 who physically shows a listing. In such a case,the devices 130 and 138 are the same device, or the devices 134 and 138are the same device.

The special remote computer software application 204 running on theshowing agent device 130 is also referred to herein as a remote showingagent computer software application. The special remote computersoftware application 204 running on the buyer device 132 is alsoreferred to herein as a remote buyer computer software application. Thespecial remote computer software application 204 running on the listingagent device 134 is also referred to herein as a remote listing agentcomputer software application. The special remote computer softwareapplication 204 running on the seller device 136 is also referred toherein as a remote seller computer software application. The specialremote computer software application 204 running on the presenter device138 is also referred to herein as a remote presenter computer softwareapplication.

The showing agent 120 operates the device 130 or a different computer(such as an office desktop computer) to access the server 110 to make ashowing appointment for virtually showing a particular listing. Thecorresponding listing agent 124 operates the device 134 or a differentcomputer (such as an office desktop computer) to confirm or decline thevirtual showing request. The server 110 creates and stores theappointment into the database 112. When the parties participate in thevirtual showing of the listing, they view the appointment and start thevirtual showing.

The process by which the special server computer software application304 manages the showing appointment and the virtual showing is furtherillustrated by reference to FIG. 4 . Referring to FIG. 4 , a flowchartdiagram illustrating the process is shown and generally indicated at400. At 402, the special server application 304 receives a request for ashowing appointment of a particular listing from a device operated bythe showing agent 120. At 404, the special application 304 sends aconfirmation request to the listing agent 124 via, for example, anE-mail message, a text message, an application message, etc. At 406, thespecial application 304 receives a confirmation from the listing agent124 for showing the listing at a particular time. At 408, the specialapplication 304 creates the virtual showing appointment. At 410, thespecial software application 304 configures the virtual showingappointment to indicate that it is intended for virtual showing. At 412,the special computer software application 304 stores the virtual showingappointment into the database 112,

At the time of the virtual showing, the participants 120-128 operate thedevices 130-138 to access the respective special remote computersoftware application 204 for the virtual showing. The special remotecomputer software application 204 communicates with the serverapplication 304 to retrieve the showing appointment data indicating thevirtual showing. The special remote computer software application 204then indicates the virtual showing to the corresponding user. The usercan then join the virtual showing.

At 414, the special server application 304 receives the requests for thevirtual showing appointment from the participates of the virtualshowing. At 416, it returns the virtual showing appointment to thedevices 130-138. In a different implementation, the elements 414-416 arenot performed. Instead, at 418, the special server computer application304 sends virtual showing indicators, such as Universal Resource Link(URLs), to the participates via, for example, E-mail messages, textmessages, etc. They can access the indicators to join the virtualshowing.

FIGS. 5 through 13 further illustrate the virtual showing experienced bythe participants 120-128. Turning first to FIG. 5 , an illustrativescreen of the special computer application 204 running on the showingagent device 130 is shown and generally indicated at 500. The interface500 displayed on the device 130 shows the virtual showing appointment tothe showing agent 120. It includes a title area 502, a showing time anda showing appointment status area 504, listing details 506, a virtualshowing selector 503 corresponding to the virtual showing indicator, avirtual showing playback selector 510, an appointment action area 512and other showing appointment data.

Selecting (by clicking or touching) the virtual showing selector 508causes the special computer application 204 to switch into the virtualshowing mode, which is further illustrated by reference to FIG. 6 .Referring to FIG. 6 , an illustrative screen of the special computerapplication 204 running on the showing agent device 130 is shown andgenerally indicated at 600. The interface 600 displayed on the showingagent device 130 shows the virtual showing of the real estate property.The features of the interface 600 are provided by the special computerapplication 204.

The video of the features of the property being shown by the presenter128 using the device 138 is indicated at 602. The camera 216 of thedevice 138 captures the video images of the property and sends them tothe device 130 either directly or through a relay server (also referredto herein as a routing server), such as a media relay server 104. Theaudio of the presenter 128 is captured by the microphone 208 of thedevice 138, and transmitted to the showing agent device 130 eitherdirectly or through the relay server 104. The audio of the presenter 128is then played back through the speaker 206 of the showing agent device130. It should be noted that, when the showing agent 120 is thepresenter 138, the audio of the presenter 138 is not played back on thedevice 130 to avoid echoing.

The seller indicator is shown at 650. Since the seller 126 hasconflicting interests against the showing agent 120 and the buyer 122,the seller 126 is not shown in the seller indicator 650. In other words,the showing agent 120 cannot view the seller 126 and the identity (suchas the seller's 126 face, body, setting, etc.) of the seller 126 isconfidential and kept away from the buying side. The video images of theseller 126 captured by the seller device 136 are not sent to the showingagent device 130, or not displayed on the device 130. The showing agent120 and the seller 126 cannot speak to or hear from each other either.The muted audio status icon 652 indicates the fact and is not anoperable control.

The indicator of the buyer 122 is shown at 620. The video images of thebuyer 122 are captured by the camera 216 of the buyer device 132 andtransmitted to the showing agent device 130 either directly or throughthe media relay server 104. In addition, the buyer indicator 620includes a buyer audio control 622 and a buyer video control 624. In oneimplementation, the controls 622-624 are clickable buttons. The showingagent 120 operates the controls 622-624 to turn on or off the audio andvideo of the buyer 122 respectively. The audio of the buyer 122 iscaptured by the microphone 208 of the device 132 and sent to the showingagent device 130 either directly or through the media relay server 104when the audio control 622 is turned on (meaning enabled). The audio ofthe buyer 122 is then played back via the speaker 206 of the showingagent device 139. When the audio control 622 is disabled (meaning turnedoff), the audio of the buyer 122 is not sent to the showing agent device130 or not played back on the showing agent device 130.

The video of the buyer 122 is captured by the camera 216 of the device132 and sent to the showing agent device 130 either directly or throughthe media relay server 104 when the video control 624 is turned on(meaning enabled). The video images of the buyer 122 is then displayedinside the buyer indicator 620 on the display screen 214 of the showingagent device 130. When the video control 624 is disabled (meaning turnedoff), the video of the buyer 122 is not sent to the showing agent device130 or not rendered on the showing agent device 130.

The indicator of the showing agent 120 is shown at 630. The video imagesof the showing agent 120 herself/himself are captured by the camera 216of the showing agent device 130 and shown at 630. The Indicator 630shows what other participates of the virtual showings see of the showingagent 120.

The listing agent 124 is indicated 640. The video images and audio ofthe listing agent 124 are captured by the camera 216 and the microphone208 of the listing agent device 134 respectively, and transmitted to theshowing agent device 130 either directly or through the media relayserver 104. The video images of the listing agent 124 is then displayedinside the listing agent indicator 640; the audio of the listing agent124 is played beck through the speaker 206 of the showing agent device130.

The listing agent indicator 640 also includes a listing agent audiocontrol 642 and a listing agent video control 644. The controls 642allow the showing agent 120 to enable or disable the corresponding mediadata (audio or video) from the listing agent device 134. When thecontrols 642-644 are disabled the corresponding media data is nottransmitted to the showing agent device 120 or not presented on theshowing agent device 120. Wien the controls 642-644 are enabled, thecorresponding media data is transmitted to the showing agent device 120and presented on the showing agent device 120 at 640.

The special remote computer software application 204 further provides atermination control 604, a recording control 606, an audio mute control608, a video mute control 610 and a confidential audio control 612. Whenthe termination control 604 is clicked, the special computer application204 terminates the showing agent device's 130 participation in thevirtual showing. In such a case, the special remote computer softwareapplication 204 is said to exit from the virtual showing,

When the recording control 606 is turned on, the special remote computersoftware application 204 notifies the server 110 to start recording ofthe virtual showing. In response, the server 110 starts recording of thevirtual showing. When it is turned off from the turned on mode, thespecial remote computer software application 204 notifies the server 110to stop recording of the virtual showing. In response, the server 110stops recording of the virtual showing and saves the recorded media.

When the audio mute control 608 is turned on, the special remotecomputer software application 204 does not transmit any audio of theshowing agent 120 to the devices 132-138 When it is turned off, thespecial remote computer software application 204 transmits the audiocaptured by the microphone 208 of the showing agent device 130 to thedevices 132-138. It should be noted that the audio of the showing agent120 may not be transmitted or relayed to a device that has disabled theaudio of the showing agent 130. Alternatively, pressing the audio mutecontrol 608 causes the special remote computer software application 204to bring up a selection list that allows the showing agent 120 to selectwhich party or parties to mute or unmute the audio feed for.

When the video mute control 610 is turned on, the special remotecomputer software application 204 does not transmit any video images ofthe showing agent 120 to the devices 132-138. When it is turned off thespecial remote computer software application 204 transmits the videocaptured by the camera 216 of the showing agent device 130 to thedevices 132-138. It should be noted that the video data of the showingagent 120 may not be transmitted or relayed to a device that hasdisabled the audio of the showing agent 120. Alternatively, pressing thevideo mute control 610 causes the special remote computer softwareapplication 204 to bring up a selection list that allows the showingagent 120 to select which party or parties to mute or unmute the videofeed for.

When the confidential audio control 612 is turned on, a confidentialaudio communication channel between the showing agent 120 and the buyer122 is established in the confidential audio mode, the audio of theshowing agent 120 is only sent to the buyer device 132 either directlyor through the media relay server 104. In addition, the audio is nottransmitted to the listing agent device 134, the presenter device 138 orthe seller device 136. When the confidential audio control 612 is turnedoff, the confidential audio mode is then turned off; and the audio ofthe showing agent 120 is no longer limited to the buyer device 132.Accordingly, the audio of the showing agent 120 is transmitted to thepresenter device 138, the listing agent device 134 and the buyer device132 either directly or through the media relay server 104. In adifferent implementation, the confidential audio control 612 is turnedon when it is pressed down and turned off when it is released.

Referring to FIG. 7 , an illustrative screen of the special computerapplication 204 running on the buyer device 132 is shown and generallyindicated at 700. The interface 700 displayed on the device 132 showsthe virtual showing appointment to the buyer 122. It includes a titlearea 702, a showing time and a showing appointment status area 704, ashowing agent and property area 706, a virtual showing selector 708corresponding to the virtual showing indicator, a virtual showingplayback selector 710, and other listing and showing appointment data.

Clicking the virtual showing selector 708 causes the special computerapplication 204 to switch into the virtual showing mode, which isfurther illustrated by reference to FIG. 8 . Referring to FIG. 8 , anillustrative screen of the special computer application 204 running onthe buyer device 132 is shown and generally indicated at 800. Theinterface 800 displayed on the buyer device 132 shows the virtualshowing of the real estate property. The features of the interface 800are provided by the special computer application 204.

The video of the features of the property being shown by the presenter128 using the device 138 is indicated at 802. The camera 216 of thedevice 138 captures the video images of the property and sends them tothe buyer device 132 either directly or through a relay server, such asa media relay server 104. The audio of the presenter 128 is captured bythe microphone 208 of the device 138, and transmitted to the buyerdevice 132 either directly or through the relay server 104. The audio ofthe presenter 128 is then played back through the speaker 206 of thebuyer device 132.

The seller indicator is shown at 804. Since the seller 126 hasconflicting interests against the showing agent 120 and the buyer 122,the seller 126 is not shown in the seller indicator 804. In other words,the buyer 122 cannot view the seller 126 and the identity (such as theseller's 126 face, body, setting, etc.) of the seller 126 isconfidential and kept away from the buying side. The video images of theseller 126 captured by the seller device 136 are not sent to the buyerdevice 132, or not displayed on the device 132.

The listing agent 124 is indicated 806. The video images and audio ofthe listing agent 124 are captured by the camera 216 and the microphone208 of the listing agent device 134 respectively, and transmitted to thebuyer device 132 either directly or through the media relay server 104.The video images of the listing agent 124 is then displayed in thelisting agent indicator 806; the audio of the listing agent 124 isplayed back through the speaker 206 of the buyer device 132. In oneimplementation, the interface 800 does not allow the buyer 122 to turnoff the audio or the video image of the listing agent 124.

The showing agent 120 is indicated 808. The video images and audio ofthe showing agent 120 are captured by the camera 216 and the microphone208 of the showing agent device 130 respectively, and transmitted to thebuyer device 132 either directly or through the media relay server 104.The video images of the showing agent 120 is then displayed in theshowing agent indicator 808; the audio of the showing agent 120 isplayed back through the speaker 206 of the buyer device 132. In oneimplementation, the interface 800 does not allow the buyer 122 to turnoff the audio or the video image of the showing agent 120.

The indicator of the buyer 122 herself/himself is shown at 810. Thevideo images of the buyer 122 herself/himself are captured by the camera216 of the buyer device 132 and shown at 810. The indicator 810 showswhat other participates of the virtual showings see of the buyer 122.

The special remote computer software application 204 further provides atermination control 812, a recording control 814, an audio mute control816, a video mute control 818 and a confidential audio control 820. Whenthe termination control 812 is clicked, the special computer application204 terminates the buyer device's 132 participation in the virtualshowing. In such a case, the special remote computer softwareapplication 204 is said to exit from the virtual showing.

When the recording control 814 is turned on, the special remote computersoftware application 204 notifies the server 110 to start recording ofthe virtual showing. In response, the server 110 starts recording of thevirtual showing. When it is turned off from the turned on mode, thespecial remote computer software application 204 notifies the server 110to stop recording of the virtual showing. In response, the server 110stops recording of the virtual showing and saves the recorded media.

When the audio mute control 816 is turned on, the special remotecomputer software application 204 does not transmit any audio of thebuyer 122 to the devices 132-138 or additional participates. When it isturned off, the special remote computer software application 204transmits the audio captured by the microphone 208 of the buyer device132 to the showing agent device 130 and other applicable devices. Theaudio of the buyer 122 may not be transmitted or relayed to a devicethat has disabled the audio of the buyer 132. Alternatively, pressingthe audio mute control 816 causes the special remote computer softwareapplication 204 to bring up a selection list that allows the buyer 122to select which party or parties to mute the audio feed for.

When the video mute control 818 is turned on, the special remotecomputer software application 204 does not transmit any video images ofthe buyer 122 to the devices 132-138. When it is turned off, the specialremote computer software application 204 transmits the video captured bythe camera 216 of the buyer device 132 to the showing agent device 130and other applicable devices (such as those of additional participantsfrom the showing agent's 120 office). The video data of the buyer 122may not be transmitted or relayed to a device that has disabled theaudio of the buyer 122. Alternatively, pressing the video mute control813 causes the special remote computer software application 204 to bringup a selection list that allows the buyer 122 to select which party orparties to mute the video feed for.

When the confidential audio control 820 is turned on, a confidentialaudio exchange channel between the showing agent device 130 and thebuyer device 132 is established. In the confidential audio mode, theaudio of the buyer 122 is only sent to the showing agent 120 eitherdirectly or through the media relay server 104. In addition, the audiois not transmitted to the listing agent device 134, the presenter device138 or the seller device 136. When the confidential audio control 820 isturned off, the confidential audio mode is then turned off; and theaudio of the buyer 122 is no longer limited to the showing agent device130. Accordingly, the audio of the buyer 122 is transmitted to, forexample, the presenter device 138 when the presenter 128 is undercontrol of the showing agent 120 either directly or through the mediarelay server 104. In a different implementation, the confidential audiocontrol 820 is turned on when it is pressed down and turned off when itis released.

Referring now to FIG. 9 , an illustrative screen of the special computerapplication 204 running on the listing agent device 134 is shown andgenerally indicated at 900. The interface 900 displayed on the device134 shows the virtual showing appointment to the listing agent 124. Itincludes a title area 902, a showing time and a showing appointmentstatus area 904, listing details 906, a virtual showing selector 908corresponding to the virtual showing indicator, a virtual showingplayback selector 910, an appointment action area 912 and other showingappointment data.

Selecting (by clicking or touching) the virtual showing selector 908causes the special computer application 204 to switch into the virtualshowing mode, which is further illustrated by reference to FIG. 10 .Referring to FIG. 10 , an illustrative screen of the special computerapplication 204 running on the listing agent device 134 is shown andgenerally indicated at 1000. The interface 1000 displayed on the listingagent device 134 shows the virtual showing of the real estate property.The features of the interface 1000 are provided by the special computerapplication 204.

The video of the features of the property being shown by the presenter128 using the device 138 is indicated at 1002. The camera 216 of thedevice 138 captures the video images of the property and sends them tothe device 134 either directly or through a relay server, such as amedia relay server 104. The audio of the presenter 128 is captured bythe microphone 208 of the device 138, and transmitted to the listingagent device 134 either directly or through the relay server 104. Theaudio of the presenter 128 is then played back through the speaker 206of the listing agent device 134. It should be noted that, when thelisting agent 124 is the presenter 138, the audio of the presenter 138is not played back on the device 134 to avoid echoing.

The seller indicator is shown at 1010. the video images of the seller126 captured by the seller device 136 transmitted to the device 134either directly or through the media relay server 104, and displayed at1010. In addition, the seller indicator 1010 includes a seller audiocontrol 1012 and a seller video control 1014. In one implementation, thecontrols 1012-1014 are clickable buttons. The listing agent 124 operatesthe controls 1012-1014 to turn on or off the audio and video of theseller 126 respectively. The audio of the seller 126 is captured by themicrophone 208 of the device 136 and sent to the listing agent device134 either directly or through the media relay server 104 when the audiocontrol 1012 is turned on (meaning enabled). The audio of the seller 126is then played back via the speaker 206 of the listing agent device 134.When the audio control 1012 is disabled (meaning turned off), the audioof the seller 126 is not sent to the listing agent device 134 or notplayed back on the listing agent device 134.

The indicator of the buyer 122 is shown at 1040. Since the seller 126has conflicting interests against the listing agent 124 and the seller126, the buyer 122 is not shown in the buyer indicator 1040. In oneimplementation, only an anonymous icon is shown. In other words, thelisting agent 134 cannot view the buyer 122 and the identity (such asthe buyer's 122 face, body, setting, etc.) is confidential and kept awayfrom the selling side. The video images of the buyer 122 captured by thebuyer device 132 are not sent to the listing agent device 134, or notdisplayed on the device 134. The listing agent 124 and the buyer 122cannot speak to or hear from each other either. The muted audio statusicon 1042 indicates the fact and is not an operable control.

The indicator of the listing agent 124 herself/himself is shown at 1020.The video images of the listing agent 124 herself/himself are capturedby the camera 216 of the listing agent device 134 and shown at 1020. Theindicator 1020 shows what other participates of the virtual showings seeof the listing agent 124.

The showing agent 120 is indicated 1030. The video images and audio ofthe showing agent 120 are captured by the camera 216 and the microphone208 of the showing agent device 130 respectively, and transmitted to thelisting agent device 134 either directly or through the media relayserver 104. The video images of the showing agent 120 is then displayedat the showing agent indicator 1030; the audio of the showing agent 120is played back through the speaker 206 of the listing agent device 134.

The showing agent indicator 1030 also includes a showing agent audiocontrol 1032 and a showing agent video control 1034. The controls 1032allow the listing agent 134 to enable or disable the corresponding mediadata (audio or video) from the showing agent device 130. When thecontrols 1032-1034 are disabled, the corresponding media data is nottransmitted to the listing agent device 134 or not presented on thelisting agent device 134. When the controls 1032-1034 are enabled, thecorresponding media data is transmitted to the listing agent device 134and presented on the listing agent device 134.

The special remote computer software application 204 further provides atermination control 1050, a real-time audio feedback control 1052, anengagement control 1054, a recording control 1056, an audio mute control1058, a video mute control 1060 and a confidential audio control 1062.When the termination control 1060 is clicked, the special computerapplication 204 terminates the listing agent's 1024 participation in thevirtual showing. In such a case, the special remote computer softwareapplication 204 is said to exit from the virtual showing.

When the real-time audio feedback control 1052 is pressed and held, thelisting agent 124 speaks out her/his request to the showing agent 120for her/his feedback on the particular feature (such as the dining room,the kitchen, etc.) being shown and indicated at 1002. The particularproperty feature that is being shown and indicated at 1002 is alsoreferred to herein as the active feature. The special remote computersoftware application 204 retrieves the audio data, representing thelisting agent's 124 real-time feedback request and captured by themicrophone 203 of the listing agent device 134. The audio is nottransmitted to other devices 130, 136-138 or not played back on thesame. The special remote computer software application 204 transcribesthe audio into text and displays it on the display screen 214 of thelisting agent device 134. The text is a real-time feedback request. Itis sent to the showing agent device 132 either directly or through theserver 110. Alternatively, the audio data (i.e., the real-time feedbackrequest in audio format) is sent to the showing agent device 132 eitherdirectly or through the server 110. The server 110 may transcribe theaudio into text and forwards the text to the showing agent device 132.

When the special remote computer software application 204 running on theshowing agent device 130 receives the real-time feedback request, it ispresented to the showing agent 120. If it is in text format, it isdisplayed on the display screen 214 of the showing agent device 130. Ifit is in audio format, it is played back via the speaker 205 of theshowing agent device 130. In response, the showing agent 120 orallyprovides a response. The special remote computer software application204 running on the showing agent device 130 captures the audio of thereal-time feedback response. It does not send the response to anyoneexcept the listing agent device 134. In one implementation, specialremote computer software application 204 transcribes the response intotext and sends it to the listing agent device 134 either directly or viathe server 110, which then displays the response on the device 134.Alternatively, the audio response is sent out, and transcribed by theserver 110 or the listing agent device 134. Even when the communicationis conducted directly between the device 130 and the device 134, thereal-time feedback request and response are also sent to the server 110.

The server 110 modifies the listing by adding the real-time feedbackrequest and response (referred to herein as a virtual showing real-timefeedback) into the listing stored in the database 112. In other words,the listing is updated with the virtual showing real-time feedback inthe database 112. As used herein, the server 110 is said to havereceived the real-time feedback request originated from the listingagent device 134 and the real-time feedback response originated from theshowing agent device 130. The real-time feedback response is alsoreferred to herein as the real-time virtual showing feedback.

When the real-time audio feedback control 1052 is released, the specialremote computer software application 204 then ends the real-time audiofeedback mode. Alternatively, the special remote computer softwareapplication 204 enters the real-time audio feedback mode when thereal-time audio feedback control 1052 is pressed and released; and exitsthe real time audio feedback mode when the real-time audio feedbackcontrol 1052 is pressed and released again. In such a case, thereal-time audio feedback control 1052 is a toggle button. When theengagement, control 1054 is clicked, the special remote computersoftware application 204 requests the server 110 to provide the buyer's122 engagement data, and displays the same on the display screen 214 ofthe listing agent device 134.

When he recording control 1056 is turned on, the special remote computersoftware application 204 notifies the server 110 to start recording ofthe virtual showing. In response, the server 110 starts recording of thevirtual showing. When it is turned off from the turned on mode, thespecial remote computer software application 204 notifies the server 110to stop recording of the virtual showing. In response, the server 110stops recording of the virtual showing and saves the recorded media.

When the audio mute control 1058 is turned on, the special remotecomputer software application 204 does not transmit any audio of thelisting agent 124 to the devices 130-138. When it is turned off, thespecial remote computer software application 204 transmits the audiocaptured by the microphone 208 of the listing agent device 134 to thedevices 130, 134, and 138. The audio of the listing agent 124 may not betransmitted or relayed to a device that has disabled the audio of thelisting agent 134. Alternatively, pressing the audio mute control 1058causes the special remote computer software application 204 to bring upa selection list that allows the listing agent 124 to select which partyor parties to mute or unmute the audio feed for.

When the video mute control 1060 is turned on, the special remotecomputer software application 204 does not transmit any video images ofthe listing agent 134 to the devices 132-138. When it is turned off, thespecial remote computer software application 204 transmits the videocaptured by the camera 216 of the listing agent device 134 to thedevices 132-138. The video data of the listing agent 124 may not betransmitted or relayed to a device that has disabled the audio of thelisting agent 124. Alternatively, pressing the video mute control 1060causes the special remote computer software application 204 to bring upa selection list that allows the listing agent 124 to select which partyor parties to mute or unmute the video feed for.

When the confidential audio control 1062 is turned on, a confidentialaudio communication channel between the listing agent 124 and the seller126 is established. In the confidential audio mode, the audio of thelisting agent 124 is only sent to the seller device 136 either directlyor through the media relay server 104. In addition, the audio is nottransmitted to the showing agent device 130, the presenter device 138 orthe buyer device 132. When the confidential audio control 1062 is turnedoff, the confidential audio mode is then turned off; and the audio ofthe listing agent 124 is no longer limited to the seller device 132.Accordingly, the audio of the listing agent 124 is transmitted to thepresenter device 138, the showing agent device 130 and the seller device138 either directly or through the media relay server 104.

Selecting (by clicking or touching) the virtual showing playbackselector 910 causes the special computer application 204 to switch intothe virtual showing playback mode, which is further illustrated byreference to FIG. 11 . Referring to FIG. 11 , an illustrative screen ofthe special computer application 204 running on the listing agent device134 is shown and generally indicated at 1100. The interface 1100displayed on the listing agent device 134 shows the virtual showing ofthe real estate property that is previously recorded. The features ofthe interface 1100 are provided by the special computer application 204.

The video of recording is shown at 1102. A playback control panel isshown at 1104. The playback control panel 1104 includes a playback pausecontrol 1106, a playback stop control 1108, a playback backward control1110, a playback play control 1112, a playback forward control 1114, anda playback progress bar 1016.

Referring to FIG. 12 , an illustrative screen of the special computerapplication 204 running on the seller device 136 is shown and generallyindicated at 1200. The interface 1200 displayed on the device 136 showsthe virtual showing appointment to the seller 126. It includes a titlearea 1202, a showing time and a showing appointment status area 1204, alisting agent and property area 1206, a virtual showing selector 1208corresponding to the virtual showing indicator, a virtual showingplayback selector 1210, and other listing and showing appointment data.

Clicking the virtual showing selector 1208 causes the special computerapplication 204 to switch into the virtual showing mode, which isfurther illustrated by reference to FIG. 13 . Referring to FIG. 13 , anillustrative screen of the special computer application 204 running onthe seller device 136 is shown and generally indicated at 1300. Theinterface 1300 displayed on the seller device 136 shows the virtualshowing of the real estate property. The features of the interface 1300are provided by the special computer application 204.

The video of the features of the property being shown by the presenter128 using the device 138 is indicated at 1302. The camera 216 of thedevice 138 captures the video images of the property and sends them tothe seller device 136 either directly or through a relay server such asa media relay server 104. The audio of the presenter 128 is captured bythe microphone 208 of the device 138, and transmitted to the sellerdevice 136 either directly or through the relay server 104. The audio ofthe presenter 128 is then played back through the speaker 206 of theseller device 136.

The buyer indicator is shown at 1304. Since the seller 126 hasconflicting interests against the listing agent 124 and the buyer 122,the buyer 122 is not shown in the buyer indicator 1304. Only ananonymous icon is shown. In other words, the seller 126 cannot view thebuyer 122 and the identity (such as the buyer's 122 face, body, setting,etc.) of the buyer 122 is confidential and kept away from the sellingside. The video images of the buyer 122 captured by the buyer device 132are not sent to the seller device 136, or not displayed on the device136.

The indicator of the seller 129 is shown at 1306. The video images ofthe seller 126 herself/himself are captured by the camera 216 of theseller device 136 and shown at 1306. The indicator 1306 shows what otherparticipates of the virtual showings see of the seller 126.

The showing agent 120 is indicated 1308. The video images and audio ofthe showing agent 120 are captured by the camera 216 and the microphone208 of the showing agent device 130 respectively, and transmitted to theseller device 136 either directly or through the media relay server 104.The video images of the showing agent 120 is then displayed at theshowing agent indicator 1308; the audio of the showing agent 120 isplayed back through the speaker 206 of the seller device 136. In oneimplementation, the interface 1300 does not allow the seller 126 to turnoff the audio or the video image of the showing agent 120.

The listing agent 124 is indicated 1310. The video images and audio ofthe listing agent 124 are captured by the camera 216 and the microphone208 of the listing agent device 134 respectively, and transmitted to theseller device 136 either directly or through the media relay server 104.The video images of the listing agent 124 is then displayed at thelisting agent indicator 1310; the audio of the listing agent 124 isplayed back through the speaker 206 of the seller device 136. In oneimplementation, the interface 300 does not allow the seller 126 to turnoff the audio or the video image of the listing agent 124.

The special remote computer software application 204 further provides atermination control 1320, a recording control 1322, an audio mutecontrol 1324, a video mute control 1326, a confidential audio control1328, and a camera switch control 1330. Wen the termination control 1320is clicked, the special computer application 204 terminates the sellerdevice's 136 participation in the virtual showing. In such a case, thespecial remote computer software application 204 is said to exit fromthe virtual showing.

When the recording control 1322 is turned on, the special remotecomputer software application 204 notifies the server 110 to startrecording of the virtual showing. In response, the server 110 startsrecording of the virtual showing. When it is turned off from the turnedon mode, the special remote computer software application 204 notifiesthe server 110 to stop recording of the virtual showing. In response,the server 110 stops recording of the virtual showing and saves therecorded media.

When the audio mute control 1324 is turned on, the special remotecomputer software application 204 does not transmit any audio of theseller 126 to the devices 130-138 or additional participates. When it isturned off, the special remote computer software application 204transmits the audio captured by the microphone 208 of the seller device136 to the listing agent device 134 and other applicable devices (suchas the presenter device 138 when the presenter 128 is under the controlof the listing agent 124). The audio of the buyer 122 may not betransmitted or relayed to a device that has disabled the audio of theseller 126. Alternatively, pressing the audio mute control 1324 causesthe special remote computer software application 204 to bring up aselection list that allows the seller 126 to select which party orparties to mute or unmute the audio feed for.

When the video mute control 1326 is turned on, the special remotecomputer software application 204 does not transmit any video images ofthe seller 126 to other devices. When it is turned off, the specialremote computer software application 204 transmits the video captured bythe camera 216 of the seller device 136 to the listing agent device 134and other applicable devices (such as those of additional participantsfrom the showing agent's 120 office, or the presenter device 138 whenthe presenter 128 is under the control of the listing agent 124). Thevideo data of the seller 126 may not be transmitted or relayed to adevice that has disabled the audio of the seller 126. Alternatively,pressing the video mute control 1326 causes the special remote computersoftware application 204 to bring up a selection list that allows theseller 126 to select which party or parties to mute or unmute the videofeed for.

When the confidential audio control 1328 is turned on, a confidentialaudio channel between the listing agent 124 and the seller 126 isestablished. In the confidential audio mode, the audio of the seller 126is only sent to the listing agent 124 either directly or through themedia relay server 104. In addition, the audio is not transmitted to theshowing agent device 130, the presenter device 138 or the buyer device132. When the confidential audio control 1328 is turned off, theconfidential audio mode is then turned off; and the audio of the seller126 is no longer limited to the listing agent device 134. Accordingly,the audio of the seller 126 is transmitted to, for example, thepresenter device 138 when the presenter 128 is under control of thelisting agent 124 either directly or through the media relay server 104.In a different implementation, the confidential audio control 1328 isturned on when it is pressed down and turned off when it is released.The camera switch control 1330 allows the seller to switch between thefront camera and the rear camera of the seller device 136.

In one implementation, when any of the audio mute controls 608, 816,1058 and 1324 is operated to mute the audio, the correspondingelectronic communication device (130, 132, 134 or 136) does not send theaudio of the corresponding user to other participating electroniccommunication devices or the server system 110 in the virtual showing.Similarly, when any of the video mute controls 610, 818, 1060 and 1326is operated to mute the video feed from the corresponding electroniccommunication device, the device does not send the video it captured toother participating electronic communication devices or the serversystem 110 in the virtual showing. When these media controls areoperated to unmute the corresponding media, the media is then capturedand sent to other participating devices in the virtual showing.

The participants of the virtual showing operate the controls 508, 708,908, 1208, or URL links to communicate with the server 110 and join thevirtual showing. The process of the virtual showing is furtherillustrated by reference to FIG. 14 . Turning to FIG. 14 , a flowchartdepicting a process by which the specialized sever software application304 and the specialized remote computer software application 204 managethe virtual showing is shown and generally indicated at 1400. At 1402,1404, 1406, 1408 and 1410, the specialized sever software application304 receives the requests to join the virtual showing from the buyerdevice 132, the seller device 136 the listing agent device 134, theshowing agent device 130 and the presenter device 138 respectively.

At 1412, the specialized sever software application 304 initializes anaudio and video routing state machine. The initialized media routingstate machine reflects which device has joined the virtual showing. Inone implementation, the media routing state machine is a data structuremaintaining the present states of communication between the devices130-138. It is further illustrated by reference to FIGS. 15A and 15B.Turning first to FIG. 15A, a block diagram illustrating the routingstate machine is shown and generally indicated at 1500. The presenterdevice 138, being a different device from the devices 130 and 134 in theillustrative embodiment, provides video and audio of the actual showingphysically at the property that it captures to all the devices 130-136through the server 110. The buyer device 132 sends its media (audio andvideo) only to the device 130. It receives media from both the device130 and the device 134. It does not communicate with the seller device136. It does not send its media to the device 134 either.

The seller device 136 sends its media (audio and video) only to thedevice 134. It receives media from both the device 130 and the device134. It does not communicate with the buyer device 132. It does not sendits media to the device 132 either. The device 130 sends its media tothe devices 132-136; receives media from the devices 132-134; and doesnot receive media from the device 136. The device 134 sends its media tothe devices 130-132 and 136; receives media from the devices 130 and136; and does not receive media from the device 132. The device 130-132engage in confidential communication on the buyer side; while the device134-136 engage in confidential communication on the seller side. The twoconfidential communication channels are separate and independent fromeach other. The confidentiality is also preserved when either the device130 or the device 134 functions as the presenter device 138. Such aparadigm is shown and generally indicated at 1550 in FIG. 15B

The communications between the devices 130 and 134 and between thedevice 138 and the devices 130-138 are not confidential. They are alsoreferred to herein as public communication channels during the virtualshowing of the listing. The communication from the device 130 to thedevice 136 is also not confidential. Similarly, the communication fromthe device 134 to the device 132 is not confidential. Both public andindependent confidential communication channels coexist during thevirtual showing.

The routing state machine, maintained by the special remote computersoftware application 304, also indicates whether a particular device(such as 130, 132, 134, 126 or 138) is participating the virtual showingor has exited the virtual showing. When a device joins the virtualshewing, it is indicated as actively participating the virtual showing.

When any of the devices 130-138 captures audio and video, the media issent to the server 104. At 1414, 1418, 1422, 1426 and 1430, thespecialized sever software application 304 receives the media data fromthe sending devices 132, 136, 130, 134 and 138 respectively. At 1416,1420, 1424, 1428 and 1432, the specialized sever software application304 relays the received media to other devices based on the routingstate machine and the limitations of the two confidential communicationchannels on the buyer and seller sides respectively. For example, mediafrom the device 134 is not forwarded to the device 132. As an additionalexample, audio and/or video from the device 134 is not forwarded to thedevice 130 if the showing agent 120 has muted audio and/or video fromthe device 134 respectively.

At 1434, the specialized sever software application 304 records themedia from the devices 130-138. For example, audio from separate devicesis stored as separate audio streams and video from separate devices isstored as separate video streams. At 1436, the specialized seversoftware application 304 also stores the stream state data of therouting state machine into the database 112 or a file.

The routing state machine may change. For example, when the showingagent 120 operates the control 642 to mute or unmute audio of thelisting agent 124, the routing state machine is changed such that thespecialized sever software application 304 stops or resumes relayingaudio from the device 134 to the device 130 respectively. The timestampof the change is also recorded in the routing state machine. The eventof the change is also termed herein as a toggle. Similarly, when theshowing agent 120 operates the control 644 to mute or unmute video ofthe listing agent 124, the routing state machine is changed such thatthe specialized sever software application 304 stops or resumes relayingvideo from the device 134 to the device 130 respectively. When therecorded virtual showing is played back triggered by operation on thecontrols 510, 710, 910 or 1210, the saved routing state machine data isalso applied to the playback.

The toggling of audio and video input is further illustrated byreference to FIG. 16 . Referring to FIG. 16 , a flowchart illustrating aprocess by which the specialized sever software application 304 and thespecialized remote computer software application 204 manage media of avirtual showing is shown and generally indicated at 1600. At 1602, thespecialized remote computer software application 204 running on any ofthe devices 130-136 receives a user input indicating a request to togglea media input source. For instance, the listing agent 124 operates thecontrols 1032-1034 to mute or unmute the audio and video of the showingagent 120 respectively. At 1604, the specialized remote computersoftware application 204 sends the request to the specialized seversoftware application 304. At 1606, the specialized sever softwareapplication 304 receives it. At 1608, the specialized sever softwareapplication 304 updates the routing state machine. In oneimplementation, the routing state machine is saved whenever it'schanged. Alternatively, it's periodically saved.

The virtual showing management system also allows the listing agent 124to request a real-time feedback from the showing agent on the propertyor the particular feature being shown during the virtual showing. Thefeature can be a dining room, a living room, a family room, a kitchen, abed room, a bathroom, a basement, a library, etc. The virtual showingreal-time feedback management is further illustrated by reference toFIG. 17 . Turning to FIG. 17 , a flowchart illustrating a process bywhich the specialized sever software application 304 and the specializedremote computer software application 204 manage the virtual showingreal-time feedback is shown and generally indicated at 1700. At 1702,the specialized sever software application 304 determines a virtualshowing real-time feedback pair between the participants of the virtualshowing. In one implementation, the pair includes the listing agentdevice 134 as the source device and showing agent device 130 as thetarget device. They are also referred to herein as the real-timefeedback source device and the real-time feedback target device.

At 1704, the specialized remote computer software application 204running on the listing agent device 134 receives a user input indicatinga request for a real-time feedback from the showing agent 120. Forinstance, the user input is the listing agent's 124 press of the control1052. Once the control 1052 is turned on, at 1706, the specializedremote computer software application 204 retrieves the audio of thelisting agent 124 that is captured by the interface device 208. Theaudio input is not sent to any other devices for playback. At 1708, thespecialized remote computer software application 204 transcribes theaudio input into text indicating the request for real-time virtualshowing feedback. At 1710, the specialized remote computer softwareapplication 204 sends the request to the specialized sever softwareapplication 304.

Alternatively, at 1712, the specialized remote computer softwareapplication 204 sends the audio input to the specialized sever softwareapplication 304. At 1714, the specialized sever software application 304transcribes the audio input into text indicating the request forreal-time virtual showing feedback. In either case, the specializedsever software application 304 is said to receive the virtual showingreal-time feedback request from the listing agent device 134. It shouldbe noted that the audio for real-time virtual showing feedback from thelisting agent device 134 is not transmitted to any of the devices130-138.

As 1716, the specialized sever software application 304 determines thetarget device to send the request to based on the real-time feedbackpair. At 1718, the specialized sever software application 304 sends therequest to the target device, i.e., the showing agent device 130 in theillustrative embodiment. At 1720, the specialized remote computersoftware application 204 running on the showing agent device 130receives the request. At 1722, the specialized remote computer softwareapplication 204 displays the request to the showing agent 120 on thedevice 130.

In response, the showing agent 120 speaks a response, i.e., her/hisreal-time feedback. At 1724, the specialized remote computer softwareapplication 204 retrieves the audio of the showing agent 120 captured bythe interface 208 of the device 130. The audio input is not sent to anyother device for playback. At 1726, the specialized remote computersoftware application 204 transcribes the audio input into textindicating the real-time feedback response to the listing agent 124. At1728, the specialized remote computer software application 204 sends theresponse to the specialized sever software application 304.

Alternatively, at 1730, the specialized remote computer softwareapplication 204 sends the audio input to the specialized sever softwareapplication 304. At 1732, the specialized sever software application 304transcribes the audio input into text indicating the response. In eithercase, the specialized sever software application 304 is said to receivethe virtual showing real-time feedback from the showing agent device130. It should be noted that the audio from the showing agent device 130is not transmitted to any of the devices 130-138.

At 1734, the specialized sever software application 304 sends theresponse to the listing agent device 134. At 1736, the specializedremote computer software application 204 running on the listing agentdevice 134 receives the response. It further indicates the response tothe listing agent 124. For instance it displays the response on thedisplay screen 214 of the device 134. At 1738, the specialized seversoftware application 304 updates the virtual showing appointment withthe virtual showing real-time feedback. At 1740, the specialized seversoftware application 304 stores updated virtual showing appointment intothe database 112. The process 1700 provides a confidential datacommunication channel solely between the devices 130 and 134 during thevirtual showing.

The virtual showing management system further provides separate andconfidential audio communication channels with separate subgroups of theparticipants of the virtual showing. The separate and confidential audiocommunication is further illustrated by reference to FIG. 18 . Turningto FIG. 18 , a flowchart illustrating a process by which the specializedsever software application 304 and the specialized remote computersoftware application 204 manage independent confidential audiocommunication channels during the virtual showing is shown and generallyindicated at 1800. At 1802, the specialized sever software application304 determines a set (meaning one or more) of independent confidentialaudio communication pairs. For instance, the showing agent device 130and the buyer device 132 form a pair while the listing agent device 134and the seller device 136 form a different and independent pair.

At 1804, the specialized remote computer software application 204receives a request for confidential audio communication. For instance,the request is generated when the showing agent 120 presses the control612, the buyer presses the control 820, the listing agent 124 pressesthe control 1062 or the seller presses the control 1328. At 1806, thespecialized remote computer software application 204 retrieves the audioof the user captured by the interface 208 of the correspondingelectronic communication device (such as 130, 132, 134 or 136). At 1808,the specialized remote computer software application 204 sends the audiothe specialized sever software application 304 and indicates to theapplication 304 that the audio is for an independent confidential audiocommunication. At 1810. the specialized sever software application 304receives the audio and the indication. For instance, the indication ispresent in a message header.

At 1812, the specialized sever software application 304 determines thetarget device of the independent confidential audio communication fromthe set of independent confidential audio communication pairs determinedat 1802. At 1814, the specialized sever software application 304forwards the received audio and the confidential audio communicationindication to the target device. For instance, audio received from thelisting agent device 134 is only forwarded to the seller device 136, notany other device for playback. At 1816, the specialized remote computersoftware application 204 running on the target device receives theaudio. At 1818, the specialized remote computer software application 204plays bade the audio via the interface 206 of the target device. Whenthe target participant intends to make a response or initiate anindependent confidential audio communication, the elements 1804-1818 areperformed to achieve the goal.

During the virtual showing, the buyer 122 may become disengaged. Whenshe/he has a decreased level of interest in the property or the virtualshowing, she/he likely engages in other types of activities. Forexample, she/he swipes the mobile app 204 out of focus or moves her/hisvision onto something else. The swipes are tracked by specialized remotecomputer software application 204, while the buyer's focus change can bedetermined using video analytic technologies, such as machine deeplearning. Such disengagement is important information to the listingagent 124 for marketing the property. Accordingly the listing agent 124desires to learn the buyer's level of engagement during the virtualshowing of the property. Furthermore, the listing agent 124 desires tolearn such information in real-time to help pinpoint the problems withthe property or the virtual showing of the same.

The buyer engagement management is further illustrated by reference toFIG. 19 . Turning to FIG. 19 , a flowchart illustrating a process bywhich the specialized sever software application 304 and the specializedremote computer software application 204 manage the buyer engagementdata is shown and generally indicated at 1900. At 1902, the specializedremote computer software application 204 running on a target userdevice, such as the buyer device 132, determines that the user isdisengaged from the virtual showing. The disengagement is an event withan event type and an event timestamp. At 1904. the specialized remotecomputer software application 204 sends the event to the specializedsever software application 304. At 1906, the specialized sever softwareapplication 304 receives the event. At 1908, the specialized seversoftware application 304 processes the event to generate target userengagement measurement data. The input to the process may also includeprevious received events.

At 1910, the specialized sever software application 204 running on anengagement measurement data consuming user device, such as the listingagent device 134, receives a request for the target user's engagementmeasurement data. For instance, the request is received when the listingagent 124 presses the control 1054. At 1912, the specialized seversoftware application 204 sends the request to the specialized seversoftware application 304. At 1914, in response to the request, thespecialized sever software application 304 sends the engagementmeasurement data to the specialized remote computer software application204 running on the listing agent device 134. At 1916, the specializedremote computer software application 204 receives the engagementmeasurement data At 1918, it presents the engagement measurement data onthe display screen 214 of the listing agent device 134. For example, theuser engagement measurement data is the number of times the buyer 122has swiped the mobile app 204 out of focus since the beginning of thevirtual showing. As another example, the user engagement measurementdata is the number of times the buyer 122 has swiped the mobile app 204out of focus when a particular feature (such as the dining room) isbeing shown. The user engagement measurement data may also indicate thetime when the disengagement occurs.

When a feature of the property is being virtually shown, it is highlydesirable that the feature is automatically recognized and indicated onthe screens of the participants. For instance, when a bed room or alibrary of the property is being shown, the virtual showing systemautomatically tag the video stream from the presenter device 138 with afeature designation, such as the feature designation 670, 870 and 1070in FIGS. 6, 8 and 10 respectively. The auto-tagging process is furtherillustrated by reference to FIG. 20 .

Referring to FIG. 20 , a flowchart illustrating a process by which thespecialized sever software application 304 auto-tags property featuresis shown and generally indicated at 2000. At 2002, the specialized seversoftware application 304 receives video data from the presenter device138. At 2004, it determines the feature of the property that is beingvirtually shown to generate an auto-tag, such as the auto-tags 670, 870and 1070. In other words the feature is recognized and identified. At2006, the specialized sever software application 304 saves the auto-tagand the corresponding timestamp when the present feature become beingshown. At 2008, the specialized sever software application 304 forwardsthe video and the auto-tag to the devices 130-136. At 2010, thespecialized sever software application 304 adds the newly generatedauto-tag and its timestamp into a table of content of the virtualshowing. At 2012, the specialized sever software application 304 storesthe table of content into the database 112.

Alternatively, the auto-tagging element 2004 is performed by thespecialized remote computer software application 204 running on thepresenter device 138. The specialized remote computer softwareapplication 204 then sends the video data along with the auto-tag to thespecialized sever software application 304. Auto-tagging utilizes videoimage analytical technologies such as deep machine learningtechnologies.

Obviously, many additional modifications and variations of the presentdisclosure are possible in light of the above teachings Thus, it is tobe understood that, within the scope of the appended claims, thedisclosure may be practiced otherwise than is specifically describedabove.

The foregoing description of the disclosure has been presented forpurposes of illustration and description, and is not intended to beexhaustive or to limit the disclosure to the precise form disclosed. Thedescription was selected to best explain the principles of the presentteachings and practical application of these principles to enable othersskilled in the art to best utilize the disclosure in various embodimentsand various modifications as are suited to the particular usecontemplated. It is intended that the scope of the disclosure not belimited by the specification, but be defined by the claims set forthbelow. In addition, although narrow claims may be presented below, itshould be recognized that the scope of this invention is much broaderthan presented by the claim(s). It is intended that broader claims willbe submitted in one or more applications that claim the benefit ofpriority from this application. Insofar as the description above and theaccompanying drawings disclose additional subject matter that is notwithin the scope of the claim or claims below, the additional inventionsare not dedicated to the public and the right to file one or moreapplications to claim such additional inventions is reserved.

1-14. (canceled)
 15. A system comprising: one or more processing units;and one or more memories storing a server computer software applicationthat, when executed by the one or more processing units, adapt thesystem to perform operations including at least: forwarding, for avirtual showing of a property, video of the property captured by a firstdevice at the property to each of multiple other devices remote from theproperty, the multiple other devices including at least a second device,a third device and a fourth device; exchanging, concurrently with thevideo and as part of a shared communication channel between the multipleother devices, first data between the multiple other devices, whereinthe first data is received from at least one of the multiple otherdevices; exchanging, concurrently with the video and as part of a firstconfidential communication channel that is between only the second andthird devices and is separate from the shared communication channel,second data between only the second and third devices, wherein thesecond data is received from at least one of the second and thirddevices; and exchanging, concurrently with the video and as part of asecond confidential communication channel that is between only thefourth device and one other device and is separate from the sharedcommunication channel and from the first confidential communicationchannel, third data between only the fourth device and one other device,wherein the third data is received from the fourth device.
 16. Thesystem of claim 15 wherein the shared communication channel furtherincludes the first device at the property, wherein the exchanging of thefirst data further includes sending the first data to the first device,and wherein the one other device is the first device.
 17. The system ofclaim 15 wherein the multiple other devices further include a fifthdevice remote from the property, and wherein the one other device is atleast one of the fifth device or the second device or other thirddevice.
 18. The system of claim 15 wherein the exchanging of the seconddata as part of the first confidential communication channel includes:receiving, from the second device, a feedback request during saidvirtual showing; forwarding the feedback request to the third deviceover the first confidential communication channel; receiving, from thethird device and in response to the feedback request, feedback duringthe virtual showing from the third device; and forwarding the feedbackto the second device over the first confidential communication channel;and wherein the system is further adapted to update stored informationassociated with at least one of the virtual showing or the property toinclude the feedback.
 19. The system of claim 18 wherein the system isfurther adapted to: transcribe, before forwarding of the feedbackrequest, the feedback request from audio captured by the second deviceto a first group of text, wherein the forwarded feedback request is thetranscribed first group of text; and transcribe, before forwarding ofthe feedback, the real-time feedback from audio captured by the thirddevice to a second group of text, wherein the forwarded feedback requestis the transcribed second group of text.
 20. The system of claim 15wherein the exchanging of the second data includes receivingconfidential communication audio from the second device, and forwardingthe confidential communication audio over the first confidentialcommunication channel to only the third device.
 21. The system of claim15 wherein the system is further adapted to: receive a disengagementevent from the second device corresponding to one or more activities ofa user of the second device during the virtual showing; analyze thedisengagement event to generate user engagement measurement data; andforward the user engagement measurement data to at least one of thefourth device and the one other device.
 22. The system of claim 15wherein the system is further adapted to: determine an auto-tag of afeature of the property that is visible in the video for the virtualshowing; and store the auto-tag and a corresponding timestamp, andwherein the forwarding of the video to the multiple other devices overthe shared communication channel includes forwarding the auto-tag to themultiple other devices.
 23. The system of claim 15 wherein the system isfurther adapted to determine, before exchanging of the second data overthe first confidential communication channel, a confidentialcommunication pair that includes the second and third devices, andestablishing the first confidential communication channel in response todetermining the confidential communication pair.
 24. The system of claim15 wherein the one or more processing units and the one or more memoriesare part of the first device, and wherein the first device is configuredto execute the server computer software application.
 25. A systemcomprising: one or more processing units; and one or more memoriesstoring a server computer software application that, when executed bythe one or more processing units, adapt the system to perform operationsincluding at least: forwarding, for a virtual showing of a property,video of the property captured by a first device at the property to eachof multiple other devices remote from the property, the multiple otherdevices including at least a second device, a third device and a fourthdevice; exchanging, concurrently with the video and as part of a sharedcommunication channel between the multiple other devices, first databetween the multiple other devices, wherein the first data is receivedfrom at least one of the multiple other devices; and exchanging,concurrently with the video and as part of a confidential communicationchannel that is between only the second and third devices and isseparate from the shared communication channel, second data between onlythe second and third devices, wherein the exchanging of the second dataincludes: receiving, from the second device, a real-time feedbackrequest during said virtual showing; forwarding the real-time feedbackrequest to the third device over the confidential communication channel;receiving, from the third device and in response to the real-timefeedback request, real-time feedback during the virtual showing from thethird device; and forwarding the real-time feedback to the second deviceover the confidential communication channel.
 26. The system of claim 25wherein the shared communication channel further includes the firstdevice at the property, and wherein the exchanging of the first datafurther includes sending the first data to the first device.
 27. Thesystem of claim 25 wherein the first device at the property is apresenter device.
 28. The system of claim 25 wherein the system isfurther adapted to: transcribe, before forwarding of the real-timefeedback request, the real-time feedback request from audio captured bythe second device to a first group of text, wherein the forwardedreal-time feedback request is the transcribed first group of text; andtranscribe, before forwarding of the real-time feedback, the real-timefeedback from audio captured by the third device to a second group oftext, wherein the forwarded real-time feedback request is thetranscribed second group of text.
 29. The system of claim 25 wherein theexchanging of the second data includes receiving confidentialcommunication audio from the second device, and forwarding theconfidential communication audio over the confidential communicationchannel to only the third device.
 30. The system of claim 25 wherein thesystem is further adapted to determine, before exchanging of the seconddata over the confidential communication channel, a confidentialcommunication pair that includes the second and third devices, andestablishing the confidential communication channel in response todetermining the confidential communication pair.
 31. Acomputer-implemented method comprising: forwarding, by one or morecomputer devices and for a virtual showing of a property, video of theproperty captured by a first device at the property to each of multipleother devices remote from the property, the multiple other devicesincluding at least a second device, a third device and a fourth device;exchanging, by the one or more computer devices and concurrently withthe video as part of a shared communication channel between the multipleother devices, first data between the multiple other devices, whereinthe first data is received from at least one of the multiple otherdevices; and exchanging, by the one or more computer devices and as partof a confidential communication channel that includes only the secondand third devices and is separate from the shared communication channel,second data between only the second and third devices, wherein theexchanging of the second data includes: receiving a disengagement eventfrom the second device corresponding to one or more activities of a userof the second device during the virtual showing; analyzing thedisengagement event to generate user engagement measurement data; andforwarding the user engagement measurement data to the third device. 32.The computer-implemented method of claim 31 wherein the sharedcommunication channel further includes the first device at the property,and wherein the exchanging of the first data further includes sendingthe first data to the first device.
 33. The computer-implemented methodof claim 31 wherein the one or more computer devices include the firstdevice.
 34. The computer-implemented method of claim 31 wherein thevideo is presented on the second device as part of an applicationprogram, and wherein the disengagement event is based at least in parton the user of the second device performing at least one of interactingwith the second device to change a focus on the second device away fromthe application program or moving vision of the user away from theapplication program.
 35. The computer-implemented method of claim 31wherein the exchanging of the second data further includes determining aquantity of multiple disengagement events from the second device duringthe virtual showing, and including the determined quantity as part ofthe user engagement measurement data.
 36. The computer-implementedmethod of claim 31 wherein the analyzing of the disengagement eventincludes determining a timestamp for the disengagement event during thevideo, and including the determined timestamp as part of the userengagement measurement data.